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Motivation Monday: The Danish Idea of “Hygge”

I’m sure you’ve heard through the media lately that the Danes are considered to be some of the happiest people in the world. The more I hear about this gorgeous country, the more I want to know their secret for a good life. Many often relate it to the idea of “hygge.”

The Danish word "hygge" (pronounced "hoo-gah") is loosely translated as "coziness," but it means so much more than that.

Hygge (noun) can happen with one’s family or friends, but you can also hygge (verb) alone snuggling up with
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TBT: 90’s Nickelodeon Game Shows You May Have Forgotten

Many TV shows of the 1990s included what they felt to be cutting-edge and futuristic technology, probably anticipating what the new millennium had to offer. However, in the early years of that decade, Nickelodeon took advantage of this newfound hardware to add a fascinating spin on their televised game shows.

Get the Picture was hosted by Mike O’Malley, with the highlight of the show being a 16-screen video wall that displayed the puzzles and graphics. Two teams in colored jumpsuits competed ag
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MM: Denzel Washington: Fall Forward

Most of us don’t think of the amazing Academy and Tony Award-winning actor Denzel Washington as a motivational speaker. But if you were to do a search of YouTube videos, you will see that his motivational videos have been viewed millions of times.

His most popular video is of his speech from the 2015 graduation commencement ceremony for Dillard University, located in New Orleans, LA. He encouraged the graduates to make mistakes and to fail in order to learn and grow. He said:

“…People have tol
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TBT: When Music Went Mobile

Imagine it—before leaving home, you had to plan what album or mixed-tape you were going to carry with you all day long. You might have some room to carry one or two extras, but that was it. You were limited to listening all day to your one, two, or possibly three albums. There was not an endless supply of the world’s music at your fingertips, a stark contrast to what is available with our current-day devices.

The early standalone music players are relics, and many of the teens of today have nev
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Motivational Mondays: Living Like You’re Dying

Have you ever seen the Pixar movie Coco? The characters in the film celebrate and remember their family members who have passed during their Dia de Los Muertos celebrations. They put their loved ones’ photos on “the ofrenda” and speak of them, their lives, and their happy times together.

This week, I was able to celebrate the death of someone close to me. And, yes, I do mean celebrate. This person lived to be the ripe old age of 93, and she had done everything in her life that she had ever want
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TBT: The Games They Played

For those of us who are Millennials or part of Generation Z, there are a whole host of games that our parents and grandparents used to play as kids—games you probably have never heard of. And you know what? They’re actually pretty fun!

There are far too many to mention, so here are a few that just about everyone over 40 has played at least once.

If you’re looking for jump rope with a twist, try Chinese jump rope!

Two players (who are called enders) hold the bands with their legs, and a middle
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Motivation Monday: What to Do When You Have Zero Motivation

If you don’t know who Thomas Frank is, you should get to know him.

Frank, a popular YouTube sensation with 2.3 million subscribers, makes videos to help people of all ages be more productive, whether they be in high school, college, or the real world. And one of his best videos is on motivation, where he gives his four-step process on how to do anything when you have no desire to get started.
• None Go Outside and Go For A Walk

Even if it seems like it’s the last thing you should do, go for a
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TBT: In the Beginning, There Was Genesis

If I were to ask you how long the superband Genesis has been around, what would you say? Since the 1980s? Maybe even as early as the late 70s? You would probably be surprised to know that this band has been together for 54 years—since 1967—and this band of lifelong friends are getting ready to hit the road again for the last time.

Starting out as high-school friends playing music in their boarding school, the now-iconic Genesis did not enter their career of stardom with a smooth arrival. Before
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Motivation Monday: Learn to Appreciate the Journey

We now live in a TikTok/Instagram/Facebook society. And because we live in a world that centers around social media, it means that we’ve become quite good at putting filters on things.

Unfortunately, those filters are falsehoods that we use to help us show that our lives are amazing even when they’re not—that they’re “amazing” even when we’re struggling or depressed or lonely, that they’re “amazing” even when we know that we don’t have it all figured out. Filters can always make it look like we
Nerdz Newz •

TBT: The Hardy Boys Live Once More

If you enjoy going to bookstores, you will notice that lately, there are prominent displays of a popular book series from the 1950s. Is this a mistake? Actually, it’s not!

The Hardy Boys series is experiencing a resurgence, and this collection of books is finding new fans in 2021. We’ll explain why in a moment. But first, a bit more about the origins of this much-loved series.

The Hardy characters were created by American writer Edward Stratemeyer, but surprisingly, the books were written by s
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Interview with Nata Ibragimov

Nata Ibragimov is an artist like no other. Be it through visual art, body art, or her performance career, she utilizes her talents to innovate and express her craft. Our own Nerdz Newz Correspondent @PenBxtr interviews Nata Ibragimov.

Could you please introduce yourself?

I’m Nata Ibragimov, a visual and performance artist, currently based in Las Vegas.

You are incredibly talented in many ways. How did you come to learn of all of your talents?

As a child, I was a competitive rhythmic gymnast.
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TBT: The Mullet Returns (No, Really!)

It is almost impossible to believe, but in June of this year, the iconic American monthly fashion and lifestyle magazine Vogue did an article on the return of the mullet. For those who aren't sure, the "mullet" is a hairstyle where the hair is cut short at the front and sides but is longer at the back. It has been the butt of jokes for years, so why would the mullet be making such a (stylish) comeback on earth?

Stars such as Rihanna, Zendaya, and Scarlett Johansson have worn mullets in recent m
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TBT: Eww, Yes, Kissing Booths Really Were a Thing

With the release of the Kissing Booth movies, people have started to question if kissing booths ever did exist. It is hard to believe that in this day and age of COVID, masks, and social distancing there could have ever been such a thing. Not many under the age of 30 have ever seen one, and for good reason.

So, did kissing booths ever really exist? And if so, how much was charged for a kiss?

The answer is yes, kissing booths did exist. In fact, they were very common in the 1950s, and many coun
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Because You Know I'm All About That Bass:13 Popular Songs with Awesome Basslines

So, really, how important is a bassline in a song you hear on the radio? The answer: Very.

To understand this, let’s compare a bassline in a song to a foundation of a house. Most of the time, you don’t even notice that the house foundation exists. But if you take it away? The whole house collapses in a heap of rubble.

In a nutshell, if the bass player doesn't have a great sense of rhythm, then it wouldn't matter if the rest of the band was made up of superstar musicians. The music would essent
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Artist Profile: Dale Chihuly

The artist Dale Chihuly has been dubbed by some as “The Tim Burton of the Art World,” and if you have been fortunate enough to have seen any of his artwork, you might heartily agree. One thing is for sure, though—once you see a Chihuly piece, chances are you’ll never forget it.

Walk into the lobby of the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas and just try to ignore Chihuly’s Fiori di Como. It would be next to impossible. The piece consists of over two thousand glass flowers hovering over the heads of the
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Music Inspired by Art: 5 Tracks Every Art Lover Should Know

What do the songs “Viva la Vida” by Coldplay, “Slide” by Calvin Harris and Frank Ocean, and “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” by Green Day all have in common? Classic works of art, of course!

The meaning of Coldplay's album and song "Viva la Vida" refers to two famous works of art, the watermelon painting Viva la Vida by Frida Kahlo and the album cover art of Eugene Delacroix's Liberty Leading the People.

Frida Kahlo’s Viva la Vida is about a celebration of life despite its sorrows and troubles. Ka
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TBT: The Beloved GameCube (Not Really a Cube)

The GameCube, released in 2001, looked like no other video game console before or since. Even many who didn’t play video games during that time can still come up with an image in their minds of what a GameCube looks like because it looked exactly like what its name described – a cube.

Okay, okay, it wasn’t a cube exactly. With its measurements at 6.3 in x 5.9 in x 4.3 in, it was an odd-looking square at best. Some called it the “purple lunchbox.” But prior to the release of the Wii in 2006, the
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A Look Back - Recap of That Sugar Film

Don’t Know Why You’re Not Losing Weight? Damon Gameau Might Know

Can’t seem to lose the extra pounds no matter what you do? Are you choosing low-calorie foods and exercising regularly, yet that number on the scale won’t budge? Not knowing why can be infuriating.

However, Damon Gameau might have the answer. In his documentary, That Sugar Film, an actor and director from Australia, Gameau put his health at risk for a two-month-long experiment in self-destructive eating to discover the bitter tru
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Interviewz

Sebastian, social media is flooded with individuals taking pics, applying makeup, and conducting how-to tutorials, but your work is vastly different. How would you describe

your craft?

"I like to think of my work as something special that everyone could do. I don’t say it to diminish what I do, but rather that the materials I use are easily available and the concepts can be followed for inspiration. I believe I do more than most which makes

my work special, but still do less than others so my
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Endgame Was Definitely Not The Endgame: Preview of MCU’s Upcoming Phase Four Movies

With the release so far this year of the MCU TV shows WandaVision, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Loki and What If...? on Disney+, as well as Black Widow in theaters, it appears that Marvel is having a massive return in 2021 after a relatively quiet 2020. Phase Four, which was released in 2019, is now in full effect. So what can we look forward to from MCU for the rest of 2021 and into 2022?

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings involves the ma
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Normal Is A Dryer Setting

Wentworth Miller, known for his role on the hit TV show Prison Break, recently revealed that he was diagnosed with autism in the July 27, 2021 issue of People Magazine, stating that it was a “shock” but “not a surprise.” Was it brave on his part to share this with the world? Sure, and he has received a lot of support from the Hollywood community for it. But is it really that surprising? If the industry is readily embracing differences, what is the new normal?

Director Tim Burton hailed for his
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Artist Profile: Sebastian le Fay

Sebastian le Fay is an incredibly talented up-and-coming artist from Denmark whose preferred canvas is himself. Sebastian’s photos always have a theme of some sort and include video step-by-step instructions and tips and tricks on how to re-create his looks.

He is known for making the jewelry, headpieces, and props that are used in his themed looks, and according to his website (sebastianlefay.com) “...he creatively uses recycled and upcycled items in his art as much as possible ​and encourages